🧳 2020: Torino, Curon Venosta, Campanile lago di Resia

Italia 2020: Alpine Grandeur & Historic Echoes

The year 2020 brought its own unique challenges, but it also offered unexpected opportunities to rediscover the profound beauty of my own country. This collection, 'Panorama, Scale e Architetture,' is a deeply personal journey through parts of Italia that truly captivated my lens and my spirit. From the majestic, snow-capped peaks of the Dolomiti to the intricate details of urban design, each frame tells a story of light, history, and the often-profound silence of nature.

I found myself chasing the fleeting light across alpine valleys and delving into the rich past embedded in ancient stones. The stark, almost haunting beauty of Curon Venosta, with its iconic submerged campanile in the Lago di Resia, contrasted wonderfully with the vibrant energy and historical depth of cities like Bolzano and Torino. It was a year of intense exploration, not just of places, but of the interplay between man and nature, captured through my evolving photographic perspective.

My Photographic Journey Through Italy in 2020

• My photographic toolkit for this journey was quite diverse, reflecting the varied subjects I encountered. For the sweeping Dolomiti landscapes and the serene reflections of alpine lakes, I often turned to my Nikon D800 or the Sony Alpha 6300 with its versatile E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens. When I needed to go ultra-wide to capture the full drama of scenes like 'Vette dolomitiche innevate illuminate dal sole' or the intricate interior of a gothic church, my Canon EOS 700D equipped with the EF-S10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM was invaluable. Even my OPPO Find X5 and samsung SM-A715F smartphones proved their worth for quick, unexpected moments, showing that the best camera is often the one you have with you.
• The light in the mountains and historic cities presented its own set of challenges and opportunities. I often found myself working with dramatic contrasts, from the harsh midday sun illuminating 'Riflessi smeraldini sul lago alpino' to the soft, ethereal glow of dawn or dusk. Capturing the golden crucifix in a dimly lit gothic church, or the 'Monumento storico sotto un cielo drammatico al tramonto,' required careful metering and often pushing my camera's capabilities, staying within my preferred ISO range of 32–1000 to maintain image quality while embracing the available light.
• Each location offered a unique narrative. The haunting beauty of Curon Venosta and the Campanile lago di Resia truly spoke to me, a solitary sentinel emerging from the water, a poignant reminder of a submerged village and lost history. In Bolzano, the blend of Alpine culture and Italian vibrancy was palpable, while Torino unveiled its majestic architecture and rich past through grand squares and intricate details. These places weren't just backdrops; they were characters in the story, each with its own soul and centuries of tales to tell.
• My approach to this series was deeply rooted in capturing both the expansive panorama and the intricate 'Scale e Architetture.' I sought out strong compositional elements, whether it was the symmetrical reflection of a bridge at sunset or the leading lines of a mountain road winding through golden forests. I aimed to convey the sense of scale in the vast Dolomiti landscapes, while also highlighting the delicate craftsmanship in the 'Interno di una torre medievale con archi e statue,' always striving for a balance between grandeur and subtle detail.

This collection represents a deep connection with the stunning landscapes and rich history of Italia in 2020, a year that, despite everything, allowed me to see and capture its beauty anew.